Adam Vinatieri Returns to Colts

Adam Vinatieri had one of the finest of his 18 career seasons in 2013. Now, the future Hall-of-Fame kicker will continue to ply his trade with the Colts.

INDIANAPOLIS – A career that should take Adam Vinatieri to Canton will continue in Indianapolis as the Colts’ second-leading scorer returns for a ninth season.

Vinatieri and the Colts avoided the NFL’s fifth-leading scorer hitting free agency by agreeing to a deal Tuesday.

Vinatieri has scored 848 of his 2,006 career points with the Colts since arriving in Indianapolis in 2006.

This past season was one of the most potent of his career when Vinatieri nailed 35-of-40 field goals and all 34 extra points for 139 points.

In the Jacksonville finale, Vinatieri hit three field goals to top 2,000 career points, moving past George Blanda (2,002) and Matt Stover (2,004) into fifth-place in NFL history. In Colts history, Vinatieri trails only Mike Vanderjagt (995) in scoring.

Vinatieri has scored in his last 161 consecutive games, including 114 straight with the Colts. That streak ranks just behind Vanderjagt (118) for the franchise-best.

With 24 game-winning kicks, Vinatieri was especially deadly last year from 40 yards and beyond, hitting 19-of-23 efforts.

With the Colts, Vinatieri has 12 field goals from the 50 -range, third-most in club history (18, Dean Biasucci; 14, Vanderjagt) and with 50- and 51-yarders at San Diego last year, he joined them as the only Colts with two 50-plus field goals in a game.

Vinatieri has hit 20 from that range during his career and has hit field goals of 50-plus yards in 11 different seasons.

Vinatieri’s 35 FGs in 2013 were the highest seasonal total in his Colts career, and he joined Vanderjagt (37, 2003; 34, 1999), Cary Blanchard (36, 1996; 32, 1997) and Raul Allegre (30, 1983) as Colts with 30 in a season.

Vinatieri has hit 31 of his last 34 field goals and has made 43 his last 46 inside 50 yards. He was 5-for-5 vs. Tennessee last year, his third career game going 5-for-5.

With four from the 40-yard range (47, 48, 45, 36, 49) in that outing, Vinatieri joined Shaun Suisham (twice), Morten Andersen, Rob Bironas, Nick Folk, Sebastian Janikowski, Joe Nedney, Neil Rackers and Josh Scobee to have that many from that range in one game.

Since 1999, Vinatieri has hit 21-of-25 game-tying or go-ahead kicks in the last four minutes of a game, an 84 percent success rate. He has made his last seven attempts in those situations, hitting from 23, 47, 51, 43, 50, 53 and 37 yards.

Adam Vinatieri Career Statistics

Years

Pts.

PAT

1-19

20-29

30-39

40-49

50

FG PCT.

1996-05

NE

1,158

367-374

6-6

103-107

76-92 (.826)

70-99 (.707)

8-17 (.471)

263-321 (.819)

2006-13

Ind

848

293-296

4-4

52-53

61-73 (.836)

56-68 (.825)

12-21 (.571)

185-219 (.845)

Total

2,006

660-670

10-10

155-160

137-165 (.830)

126-167(.754)

20-38 (.526)

448-540 (.830)

Vinatieri is tied with Jason Elam for the NFL lead with 16 career 100-point seasons. With 1,158 points with New England and 848 with the Colts, he is the only player with 825 points with two different teams.

Vinatieri has been to five Super Bowls, winning four, one appearance and victory shy of tying the all-time best records.

Vinatieri has played in 27 career playoff games, tying D.D. Lewis for the second-most ever (29, Jerry Rice). Vinatieri’s 213 point, 51 field goals and 61 field goal attempts are NFL playoff records.

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